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Thursday, September 11, 2014

Music Class Changed My Faith

Experienced parents will tell you, if they are wise, that you learn as much as your children when you parent.My older son taught me something when he was three that has changed the way I practice my faith.

My story begins in a parent-child music class. As a three-year-old, he had taken a new and definitive interest in the cymbals. Baby versions of the cymbals make a muffled sound, but these were real ones with a diameter about the size of a kickball – complete with wooden handles for a firm, loud crash! He would wait patiently until the end of music class for free music play. The vat of instruments would come out, and he could sift through it to find his prize.

It was the start of a new semester and I was with a new group of moms. I noticed other children getting quiet instruments and lightly strumming or plucking them on their mothers’ laps. Meanwhile, my son was proudly marching around with his cymbals crashing. The sound was rather annoying and I felt like everyone was watching. I made a couple of comments to the moms around me, “They are his favorite. You can see why I don’t have them at home!” I tried to fight the fact that I was embarrassed.

That night at dinner, I asked him if he had enjoyed music class. He said, “Mommy, the cymbals are loud,” and he hung his head down. Although his social awareness wasn’t fully developed, I couldn’t help but wonder if he had come to that realization because of my actions that day. I decided right then that I did not want my embarrassment to cost him something he looked forward to.

After all, the cymbals were included in the vat to be played...

Please click here to find out the two important faith lessons I learned from this experience. Are YOU living your faith to fullest? Many thanks to Kaitlyn Bouchillon and the (in)courage team for inviting me to guest post again!